THE WEST COAST PREMIERE OF
KANDER & EBB'S THE SCOTTSBORO BOYSREUNITES FIVE-TIME TONY AWARD WINNER SUSAN STROMAN
WITH MEMBERS OF THE ORIGINAL BROADWAY CREATIVE TEAM

SAN DIEGO (REVISED April 30, 2012)—The Old Globe today announced the cast and creative team for the West Coast Premiere of The Scottsboro Boys, the critically acclaimed musical about an infamous chapter in American history. Nominated for 12 Tony Awards, The Scottsboro Boys features music and lyrics by the legendary team of John Kander and Fred Ebb, libretto by David Thompson, musical direction by Eric Ebbenga and direction and choreography by five-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman. The Scottsboro Boys will run April 29 – June 10 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe’s Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Preview performances run April 29 – May 4. The Scottsboro Boys is presented in association with American Conservatory Theater. Opening night is Saturday, May 5 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park.

The Scottsboro Boys is a daring new musical based on the notorious “Scottsboro” case in which nine young African American men were unjustly accused of rape in 1930s Alabama. Their lives would eventually spark the Civil Rights Movement. With arresting originality, innovative staging and a breathtaking score, The Scottsboro Boys received 12 Tony Award nominations and was hailed by Entertainment Weekly as “the best new musical of the year.”

The cast of The Scottsboro Boys features Tony Award winner Ron Holgate as The Interlocutor, Clifton Duncan as Haywood Patterson, Jared Joseph as Mr. Bones and JC Montgomery as Mr. Tambo. Holgate won the Tony Award for Featured Actor in a Musical in 1776 and has also been seen on Broadway in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Guys and Dolls, Annie Get Your Gun and Kiss Me, Kate. Duncan’s credits include Lost in the Stars at City Center Encores!, Twelfth Night at The Public Theater and the hip-hop solo piece The uniVERSE Project, which he created at Ars Nova. Joseph was last seen in the National Tour of Dreamgirls and is working on Bill T. Jones’ Superfly. Montgomery was part of the original Broadway company of The Scottsboro Boys and has also appeared in the original Broadway productions of The Color Purple, Thou Shalt Not, Swing! and Parade.

This production is supported, in part, through a gift from Season Sponsors Peter Cooper and Norman Blachford.

The Old Globe will present three educational seminars about The Scottsboro Boys and the historical significance of the Scottsboro legal case. Admission is free, but reservations are required for these special events. Please email RSVP@theoldglobe.org to reserve a seat for one or more of these seminars.

INSIGHTS SEMINAR: Monday, April 30 at 7:00 p.m. (Reception at 6:30 p.m.)Director and choreographer Susan Stroman and playwright David Thompson will discuss the history of the production and the issues they faced in the creation of the musical.

DIVERSITY IN THE ARTS: Monday, May 7 at 7:00 p.m. (Reception at 6:30 p.m.)Join Delicia Turner Sonnenberg (MOXIE Theatre) and Seema Sueko (Mo’olelo Performing Arts Company) for a conversation about how theatre artists — both present and past — explore stories about race on stage.

TURNING POINTS IN SAN DIEGO CIVIL RIGHTS HISTORY
Monday, June 4 at 7:00 p.m. (Reception at 6:30 p.m.)The Scottsboro case galvanized a generation of African Americans and became a turning point in civil rights history. Dr. Carrol Waymon and Dr. John Warren lead a discussion of the civil rights movement in San Diego.

John Kander and Fred Ebb (Music and Lyrics) have collaborated for the theater on Flora, the Red Menace, Cabaret (Tony Award, Best Composer and Lyricist), The Happy Time, Zorba, 70, Girls, 70, Chicago, The Act, Woman of the Year (Tony Award, Best Original Score), The Rink, Kiss of the Spider Woman (Tony Award, Best Original Score), The World Goes Round, Steel Pier, Curtains, All About Us, The Visit and The Scottsboro Boys. Their film work includes Funny Lady, Lucky Lady, Cabaret, New York, New York, Steppin' Out, Chicago, Kramer vs. Kramer, Places in the Heart, Still of the Night, Blue Skies Again. Their television credits include “Liza with a Z,” “Steppin' Out” (Emmy Award), “My Coloring Book,” the Academy Awards, “Baryshnikov on Broadway,” “Goldie and Liza Together,” “Breathing Lessons,” “The Boys Next Door” and “An Early Frost.” In 1985, “New York, New York” became the official anthem of New York City.

David Thompson (Libretto) wrote the books for the Broadway productions of The Scottsboro Boys (Tony and Drama Desk Award nominations, Hull-Warriner Award, Outer Critics Circle and Lucille Lortel Awards for Best Musical), Steel Pier (Tony nomination), and Thou Shalt Not as well as the script adaptation for the current revival of Chicago, now in its 15th year on Broadway. His upcoming Broadway credits include The Prince of Broadway. His Off Broadway credits include And the World Goes ‘Round (Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards) and the revival of Flora, the Red Menace (Drama Desk nomination). Thompson’s adaptation of A Christmas Carol is now in its 20th season at McCarter Theatre Center. This past spring, Thompson produced and wrote James Taylor’s critically-acclaimed Perspective Series for Carnegie Hall. His television work includes “Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall,” the PBS specials “Razzle Dazzle,” “Bernstein on Broadway” and “The Music of Richard Rodgers” and, for “Great Performances,” “My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies.”

Susan Stroman (Direction and Choreography) won critical acclaim for her direction and choreography of the Broadway production of The Scottsboro Boys. She directed and choreographed The Producers, winner of a record-making 12 Tony Awards including Best Direction and Best Choreography. She co-created, directed and choreographed the groundbreaking musical Contact for Lincoln Center Theater, winning the 2000 Tony Award for Best Choreography, as well as Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Lucille Lortel Awards and a 2003 Emmy Award for “Live at Lincoln Center.” Her other Broadway credits include Oklahoma! (Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Olivier Awards), Young Frankenstein, Thou Shalt Not, The Music Man (Outer Critics Circle Award), The Frogs, Steel Pier, Big, Show Boat (Tony, Outer Critics Circle Awards), Picnic and Crazy for You (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Olivier Awards). Her Off Broadway credits include The Scottsboro Boys (Lucille Lortel Award), And the World Goes ’Round (Outer Critics Circle Award), Flora, the Red Menace and Happiness. For 10 years she choreographed Madison Square Garden’s annual spectacular event A Christmas Carol (Outer Critics Circle Award). For New York City Opera she choreographed A Little Night Music, 110 in the Shade and Don Giovanni. For New York City Ballet, Stroman created Double Feature, a full-length ballet featuring the music of Irving Berlin and Walter Donaldson, and For the Love of Duke featuring the music of Duke Ellington. She has created the ballets But Not For Me for the Martha Graham Company and Take Five...More or Less for Pacific Northwest Ballet. Her choreography received an Emmy nomination for the HBO presentation Liza: Live from Radio City Music Hall starring Liza Minnelli. Her other television credits include co-conceiver/choreographer for PBS’s “Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall” and “An Evening with the Boston Pops – A Tribute to Leonard Bernstein”. She received the American Choreography Award for her work on the Columbia Pictures feature film Center Stage. Stroman directed and choreographed The Producers: The Movie Musical, nominated for four Golden Globes. She is the recipient of the George Abbott Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Theatre and the winner of a record five Astaire Awards. Currently she is preparing for the upcoming Broadway show Prince of Broadway, opening fall 2012.

Eric Ebbenga (Music Director) previously music directed The Scottsboro Boys at Philadelphia Theatre Company, where he has also music directed The Light in the Piazza (Barrymore Award) and Grey Gardens (Barrymore nomination). His other recent shows include Ordinary Days, The Threepenny Opera, Sunday in the Park with George (Barrymore nomination), See What I Wanna See, Candide, Assassins (Barrymore Award), Caroline, or Change (Barrymore nomination) and Sweeney Todd (Barrymore nomination). Next he will music direct Next to Normal and A Little Night Music (Arden Theatre Company).

TICKETS to The Scottsboro Boys can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park. Performances begin on April 29 and continue through June 10. Ticket prices start at $39. Performance times: Previews: Sunday, April 29 at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 1 at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 2 at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, May 3 at 8:00 p.m. and Friday, May 4 at 8:00 p.m. Regular Performances: Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m. and Sunday evenings at 7:00 p.m. There is a 2:00 p.m. matinee on Wednesday, May 30 and no matinee performance on Saturday, June 2. Discounts are available for full-time students, patrons 29 years of age and under, seniors and groups of 10 or more.

Additional events taking place during the run of The Scottsboro Boys include:

POST-SHOW FORUMS: The Scottsboro BoysTuesday, May 8; Sunday, May 13 (matinee); Tuesday, May 15; Saturday, May 19 (matinee); Wednesday, May 23; Wednesday, May 30 and Tuesday, June 5. FREE
Discuss the play with members of the The Scottsboro Boys cast and crew at post-show discussions led by the Globe’s creative staff after the performances.

OUT AT THE GLOBE: Thursday, May 10 at 6:30 p.m. $20
An evening for gay and lesbian theater lovers and the whole LGBT community, Out at the Globe includes a hosted wine and martini bar, appetizers and door prizes. Everyone is welcome. $20 per person. RSVP at (619) 23-GLOBE. (Tickets to The Scottsboro Boys are sold separately.)

THANK GLOBE IT’S FRIDAY: Fridays, May 11 and 18 at 6:30 p.m. $20
Kick off the weekend with the Globe’s Friday pre-show bash. TGIF includes a hosted wine and martini bar, appetizers and desserts. $20 per person. RSVP at (619) 23-GLOBE. (Tickets to The Scottsboro Boys are sold separately.)

LOCATION: The Old Globe is located in San Diego’s Balboa Park at 1363 Old Globe Way. There are numerous free parking lots available throughout the park. Valet parking is also available ($10). For additional parking information visit www.BalboaPark.org.

PHOTO EDITORS: Digital images of The Old Globe’s productions are available at www.TheOldGlobe.org/pressroom.

The Tony Award-winning Old Globe is one of the country’s leading professional regional theaters and has stood as San Diego’s flagship arts institution for 75 years. The Old Globe produces a year-round season of 15 productions of classic, contemporary and new works on its three Balboa Park stages: the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the 600-seat Old Globe Theatre and the 250-seat Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, which are both part of The Old Globe’s Conrad Prebys Theatre Center, and the 605-seat outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theatre, home of its internationally renowned Shakespeare Festival. More than 250,000 people attend Globe productions annually and participate in the theater's education and community programs. Numerous world premieres such as The Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, A Catered Affair, and the annual holiday musical, Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, have been developed at The Old Globe and have gone on to enjoy highly successful runs on Broadway and at regional theaters across the country.

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CASTBIOGRAPHIES

DAVID BAZEMORE (Olen Montgomery) most recently appeared in The Scottsboro Boys at Philadelphia Theatre Company. His other credits include Leading Player in Pippin (Tri-County Performing Arts Center), Seaweed in Hairspray (Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre), Four-Eyed Moe in Five Guys Named Moe (Wilmington Drama League) and Belize in Angels in America (Shenandoah University Conservatory).

CORNELIUS BETHEA (Willie Roberson) is no stranger to the work of Kander and Ebb. He has toured the U.S., Canada and Asia with Chicago as Swing and Mary Sunshine understudy. Aside from performing, he cherishes his chances to nurture future talent working with such programs as Students Live! in New York City, Rising Stars in Boston, Broadway Connection on tour and as guest choreographer for Stratford High School in Stratford, CT. An avid, reader, writer and knitter, Bethea is thrilled to share this experience.

SHAVEY BROWN (Swing) has appeared in the tours of Radio City Christmas Spectacular and The Pajama Game. Regionally he has appeared in Smokey Joe’s Cafe (Arts Center of Coastal Carolina), The Producers (Maine State Music Theatre and Walnut Street Theatre, Barrymore Award nomination for Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical), Cats and Jesus Christ Superstar (Maine State Music Theatre), Big River (The Human Race Theatre Company) and High School Musical on Stage! (Beef & Boards).

NILE BULLOCK (Eugene Williams) reprises the role he played in Philadelphia. He has attended Broadway Dance Center for three years studying jazz, hip hop and ballet. He was awarded the Gregory Hines Youth Scholarship at the American Tap Dance Foundation. Bullock has performed in many theater productions at the Garage Theater. He has also appeared in numerous commercials including ads for Honda and Xbox.

CHRISTOPHER JAMES CULBERSON (Andy Wright) has appeared in the New York productions of Scandalous People (Minetta Lane Theatre), Bathory: The Musical and as Tiger Woods, Serena Williams and a host of other characters in Chuckleball. Some of his other theater credits include Bernardo in West Side Story, Adrian in Smokey Joe's Cafe, Matthew Henson in Ragtime, a New Rhythm Boy and Mrs. O'Malley in My One and Only and Stephen Sondheim's 75th birthday concert at the Hollywood Bowl. Culberson’s television credits include "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," "Bill Nye, the Science Guy" and portraying Billy Dee Williams on Biography Channel's "Celebrity Ghost Stories.”

CLIFTON DUNCAN (Haywood Patterson) has appeared Off Broadway in Lost in the Stars (City Center Encores!), Twelfth Night (The Public Theater) and as a featured artist at Ars Nova's ANT Fest in his hip-hop solo piece The uniVERSE Project. His numerous regional credits include productions at Yale Repertory Theatre, Arena Stage, Barrington Stage Company, Williamstown Theatre Festival, CENTERSTAGE, Signature Theatre Company, The Shakespeare Theatre Company, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey and others. He has also appeared on Comedy Central's Onion SportsDome.

RON HOLGATE (The Interlocutor) most recently starred in Heroes Off Broadway and in Lowell, Massachusetts. He has been on Broadway in Kiss Me, Kate, Annie Get Your Gun, The Grand Tour (Tony Award nomination), Lend Me a Tenor, Guys and Dolls, 42nd Street, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Milk and Honey, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Musical Chairs and 1776 (Tony Award, and the film version). He has done National Tours of Urinetown, Can-Can, 42nd Street, Annie, Man of La Mancha and Funny Girl. Holgate has directed several shows around the country including Reunion, a show of our Civil War that he co-created with Jack Kyrieleison.

ERIC JACKSON (Clarence Norris) was seen on Broadway in the productions of Young Frankenstein and Thoroughly Modern Millie. He also performed in the National Tours of Dreamgirls, Ragtime and Chicago. His Off Broadway and regional credits include Show Boat (Carnegie Hall), Howard in Finian’s Rainbow (Irish Repertory Theatre), Paul in Kiss Me, Kate (Weston Playhouse), Mereb in Aida (Westchester Broadway Theatre), The Wiz and Xanadu (Maine State Music Theatre) Rent, Les Misérables, Sunset Boulevard, Miss Saigon and Chicago (Pioneer Theatre Company) and Tales from the Tunnel (New York International Fringe Festival). His film and television credits include Romance & Cigarettes and “As the World Turns.”

JARED JOSEPH (Mr. Bones) recently completed the National Tour of Dreamgirls directed by Robert Longbottom, Joseph continues work on various projects with other award-winning artistic visionaries such as Bill T. Jones (Superfly), Maurice Hines Jr. (Josephine Tonight), Charles Randolph-Wright (Motown) and now Susan Stroman.

MAX KUMANGAI (Swing) was last seen as a hippie in the Broadway National Tour of Hair. His Off Broadway credits include What’s That Smell: The Music of Jacob Sterling and Lysistrata Jones. His other New York credits include Where’s Charley?, Bells Are Ringing and Anyone Can Whistle (City Center Encores!). His other roles include Jetsam in The Little Mermaid and Paul in Kiss Me, Kate (The Muny). He also filmed an episode of “Boardwalk Empire.”

JAMES T. LANE (Ozie Powell) has appeared on Broadway in The Scottsboro Boys, Chicago and A Chorus Line as Richie Walters. His tours include Cinderella with Eartha Kitt and Tyrone Jackson in Fame. His regional credits include Josephine Tonight directed and choreographed by Maurice Hines, Scarecrow in The Wiz (Dallas Theater Center) and more. Lane has appeared twice at Carnegie Hall with The New York Pops. He has made concert appearances with the Indianapolis, Naples, Baltimore and Ottawa Symphonies. He also played James Brown on “One Life to Live” and made three Tony Award appearances.

AUDREY MARTELLS (The Lady Understudy) has built a successful career as a songwriter for such gifted legends like George Benson and Randy Crawford. Martells has sung background with Whitney Houston, Jewel, Britney Spears and Joan Osborne, among many others. She is making her theater debut as the understudy for the role The Lady.

JC MONTGOMERY (Mr. Tambo) was part of the original Broadway production of The Scottsboro Boys. He also appeared on Broadway in Bye Bye Birdie, The Little Mermaid, The Color Purple, Thou Shalt Not, Swing!, Parade, Smokey Joe’s Cafe and The Boys from Syracuse. His regional credits include The Color Purple (Alliance Theatre) and Chess (Paper Mill Playhouse) as well as television credits with recurring roles on “Law & Order” and “Another World.”

CLIFTON OLIVER (Charles Weems) has appeared on Broadway as Benny in In the Heights opposite Jordin Sparks and Fiyero in Wicked. His Off Broadway credits include Wig Out and Miracle Brothers (Vineyard Theatre), and his tours include Benny in Rent (Australia) and Teen Angel in Grease (Second National Tour). He originated the role of Simba in the Las Vegas and Los Angeles casts of The Lion King. His also appeared in the Los Angeles company of Ragtime. His television credits include “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” “Good Morning America” and “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”

CLINTON ROANE (Roy Wright) is returning to The Scottsboro Boys having been a part of the original Broadway company. He also played the role of Roy Wright at the Philadelphia Theatre Company. His New York credits include Icarus in The Sporting Life of Icarus Jones, and his regional credits include Noble T. Jones in Hello! My Baby and Joey in Frosty the Snowman as well as readings and workshops.

C. KELLY WRIGHT (The Lady) earned an AUDELCO Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her work as Madam in Langston in Harlem at Urban Stages, and her portrayal of Pearl Johnson in Black Pearl Sings at InterAct Theatre Company earned her a Barrymore Award nomination for Best Actress. For work on various Northern California stages, Wright garnered numerous other nominations and awards including Best Actress in a Musical as Caroline in Caroline, or Change, Best Supporting Actress in a Play as Mame in Radio Golf and as Keckley in A Civil War Christmas and Best Principal Performer in It Ain’t Nothin’ but the Blues, all at TheatreWorks. Her other regional favorites include Gem of the Ocean, The Piano Lesson and Crowns. She has appeared in the World Premieres of Bricktop, A Little Princess and Memphis. Wright returns to New York at the conclusion of The Scottsboro Boys to continue development of two new musicals: Rosa Parks in Red Clay and Betty Jo in On Kentucky Avenue.

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FACT SHEET

THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS
Music and Lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb
Libretto by David Thompson
Direction and Choreography by Susan Stroman

SYNOPSIS: Based on the notorious “Scottsboro” case of the 1930s, this daring new musical tells of the nine young African American men unjustly accused of rape and whose lives would spark the Civil Rights Movement. (A co-production with American Conservatory Theater.)

INSIGHTS SEMINARMonday, April 30 at 7:00 p.m. (Reception at 6:30 p.m.)
Susan Stroman and David Thompson discuss the history of the production and the issues they faced in its creation. FREE

DIVERSITY IN THE ARTSMonday, May 7 at 7:00 p.m. (Reception at 6:30 p.m.)
Join a conversation about how theatre artists — both present and past — explore stories about race on stage. FREE

TURNING POINTS IN SAN DIEGO CIVIL RIGHTS HISTORYMonday, June 4 at 7:00 p.m. (Reception at 6:30 p.m.)
A discussion of the civil rights movement in San Diego, inviting us into a chapter of our own local history. FREE

POST-SHOW FORUMSTuesday, May 8; Sunday, May 13 (matinee); Tuesday, May 15; Saturday, May 19 (matinee); Wednesday, May 23; Wednesday, May 30 and Tuesday, June 5.
Discuss the play with members of the cast following the performance. FREE

OUT AT THE GLOBEThursday, May 10 at 6:30 p.m. $20
An evening for LGBT theater lovers with a hosted wine and martini bar, appetizers and door prizes. Everyone is welcome. (Show sold separately.)

LOCATION: The Old Globe is located in San Diego’s Balboa Park at 1363 Old Globe Way. Free parking is available throughout the park. Valet parking is also available ($10). For parking information visit www.BalboaPark.org.